VC Action: Major General Sir Robert
Bellew Adams VC KCB (Muree, Punjab, India, 26 July 1856 -
13 February 1928, Inverness) was 41 years old, and a Brevet
Lieutenant Colonel in the Staff Corps and Corps of Guides,
Indian Army. The following deed took place for which he was
awarded the VC during the Tirah Campaign, India, a rising
by Afridi and Orakzai tribesmen who had been subsidised by
the government in exchange for safeguarding the Khyber Pass:
On 11 August 1897 at Nawa Kili, Upper Swat,
North-West Frontier of India, Lieutenant Colonel Adams, with
two other officers (Viscount, Alexander Edward Murray Fincastle
and Hector Lachlan Stewart MacLean) and five men of the Guides,
started in pursuit of the tribesmen after the action of Landakai,
and it is believed that the horse of Lieutenant R. T. Greaves
bolted with his rider. When nearing the enemy, Greaves was
shot through the body and fell to the ground, being quickly
surrounded by the tribesmen. Under a heavy and close fire
Major Adams, Lieutenants McLean and Fincastle, seeing Greaves
predicament, rode to his rescue and succeeded in recovering
his body. They drove off the enemy, but Greaves was killed
by another shot just as they commenced to carry him away.
Major Adams most bravely stood between the enemy and McLean
and Fincastle while these two officers were attempting to
put their wounded friend on to one of their horses. Lieutenant
McLean was mortally wounded while engaged in this humane act
and Colonel Adams' horse and three others were shot.
Later Adams earned a promotion to Major-General
and was made Knight Commander of the Bath. Sir Robert died
in Glasgow at the age of 71. |
